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Paul and Kirk Post Seven-Figure Quarters

By Bernie Becker July 1, 2010 8:15 pmJuly 1, 2010 8:15 pm

July may barely be here, but candidates’ fund-raising totals from the second quarter are already starting to trickle out.

For example, Rand Paul and Mark S. Kirk — a pair of Republican candidates for Senate who often found themselves in the spotlight recently, and not always for positive reasons – have said they brought in seven-figure hauls.

According to his campaign, Mr. Kirk, who is facing Democrat Alexi Giannoulias in Illinois, raised $2.3 million in the quarter and has roughly $3.9 million on hand. The five-term congressman has been dogged recently over what he termed careless statements about his military record and his experience as a teacher.

Mr. Giannoulias, the state treasurer who has faced negative press of his own, has not yet announced his second-quarter totals.

Meanwhile, Mr. Paul raised about $1.1 million, according to news media outlets, though his campaign reportedly did not specify how much cash it had on hand. The Tea Party favorite found himself on the defensive after his May primary win, in large part due to his response to questions on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Mr. Paul will face Jack Conway, Kentucky’s attorney general, in November.

The Times’s Jeff Zeleny and Robert Pear recently examined the last-minute pushes candidates were making to rake in the donations before the end of the quarter.

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